Your baby is growing rapidly at 21 weeks. He measures around 21.6 cm to 26.7 cm from head to toe and weighs approximately 300 grams. That’s about the size of a carrot.
Baby Development
- Movement: Your baby now has more control over limb movements. This may explain the stronger kicks and stretches you’re starting to feel.
- Sleeping: Babies at this stage sleep around 12 to 14 hours a day inside the womb.
- Hearing: Has developed enough to pick up sounds inside your body, like your heartbeat, digestion, and your voice. They’ll even start recognizing repeated songs or stories, which can be comforting after birth.
- Taste: Working taste buds allow your baby to sense flavours through the amniotic fluid, based on what you eat.
- Nervous System: The nervous system is forming connections that will eventually control the five senses. Tiny fingers may now reach for ears, the nose, or the umbilical cord.
- Blood Production: While the liver and spleen have been making blood cells, the bone marrow is now mature enough to take over. Red blood cells carry oxygen through the placenta and return carbon dioxide waste to be removed.
- Eyes and Digestive System: Eyelids are fully formed. The baby is swallowing amniotic fluid, which helps develop the digestive system and also provides some calories.
- Reproductive system: If you’re expecting a girl, the vagina is now formed and will continue to grow until birth.
- Bones: Cartilage is slowly turning into bone, making your baby’s body stronger.